The economy, terrorism, crime, immorality… it seems all the news lately is bad. The general trend seems that things are careening from bad to worse. It’s uncertain times like these that are a great help in revealing what I think is most important in my life and where my trust really is.

I want to see good: a steady source of income, a home, a full refrigerator, plenty of warm clothes, with no fear of crime or violence. Do I worry when it appears I could lose these things? My head says “no” and quotes scripture…

…
You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

– Psalm 4:7-8 (ESV)

…but what does my heart say? Do I still worry? (I’d like to say “no” but, yeah, a little.) What if I did lose my job… how much would I worry then? How much sleep would I lose? Probably a lot. But worry about temporal things is bad if I believe that God is good, He loves me, and is in control of everything.

How to get what’s in the head into the heart? I must stop filling my mind with worry about “things” (they are fleeting by very nature… they’re supposed to go away), and rest in God’s loving care. I must stop seeking the temporal and seek the eternal (Matthew 6:25-34). I must set my mind on things above, not earthly things (Colossians 3:2). If I want to see good, all I need to do is look to God. He will provide for all of my needs.

Easier said than done… but do-able no matter how much I worry.

Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.

– Psalms 37:16 (ESV)

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

– Proverbs 15:17 (ESV)

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

– Proverbs 16:8 (ACV)

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.

– Proverbs 15:16 (ESV)

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

– Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

– Psalms 125:1 (ESV)